Process of personality development

Constitutionally determined temperament has direct effect on pattern of child behavior and evolution of personality during childhood.

Depending on individual temperament children elicit different stimuli from the same environment. For example; a child with inherent "dependent nature" will find concerned parents and teachers comforting, whereas a child with high levels of energy and inherent low capability to adjust will find them intrusive and restrictive.

Environmental events during childhood influence children's behavior and personality formation, which in turn influence the environment.

Same environment imparts different childhood experiences to children with different behavior traits.

Furthermore, the environmental factors along with child’s inherent temperament have a direct effect on child’s “self-concept”, the crucial component of child’s personality development.

Self-concept

Child’s environment is greatly influenced by child’s concept about himself.

During tween and the initial years of teenage development, children interpret their self concept from how they are known by their peers. So, for them to risk peer rejection is not simply to endure a bout of loneliness, but that of loosing their identity.

Family structure

Birth order also contributes to child's self-concept and has a profound effect on personality development.

Change in the family structure or situation influences the role and patterns of interaction, such as birth of a sibling, separation or divorce of parents, death of a grandparent or loss of a parent’s job.

Personality traits

In English language there are thousands of words to describe the personality of an individual. They are also called personality traits.

It is the personality trait that determines how a child adjusts and reacts to to various environmental situations.

The combination and interaction of various traits forms a personality that is unique to each individual. Psychologists have divided these traits into three main categories:

Cardinal traits:

Cardinal traits dominate a child’s whole life, often to the point that the person becomes known specifically for these traits.

Effects of cardinal traits on the personality development tend to develop later in life and are not usually seen during childhood.

Central traits:

Central traits are the general characteristics that form the basic foundations of personality development.

They are the major characteristics that are usually used to describe a person. Some of the common personality traits are as follows:

Secondary traits are often related to attitudes or preferences and often appear only in certain situations or under specific circumstances. Some examples would be getting anxious before travelling or impatient while waiting in a queue.